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Results remained unclear early Wednesday morning in California’s special election to determine who will occupy the congressional seat left vacant by former Representative Eric Swalwell. The Democratic lawmaker stepped down in April following sexual assault allegations from multiple women, a development that also prompted him to abandon his concurrent campaign for California governor.
Two candidates advanced to compete for the remainder of Swalwell’s term: State Senator Aisha Wahab, who represents the progressive wing of the party, and Melissa Hernandez, a moderate Democrat and president of the Bay Area Rapid Transit Board. Tuesday’s contest functioned as both a special election and a primary for the midterm race, meaning the two finalists will face each other again in November regardless of the special election outcome.
Wahab and Hernandez emerged as the leading vote-getters in the June 16 jungle primary for California’s 14th Congressional District. California’s open primary system allows candidates from any party affiliation to advance based solely on vote totals, with the top two finishers moving forward to the general election.
The matchup reflects a broader pattern in Democratic primaries, where progressive candidates frequently backed by the Democratic Socialists of America challenge establishment-aligned opponents. Wahab has championed ICE enforcement restrictions, drug price reductions, and renewable energy investments, earning support from Our Revolution, a Bernie Sanders-affiliated organization, plus progressive lawmakers including Representatives Pramila Jayapal and Greg Casar.
Hernandez has adopted a centrist position on immigration policy, acknowledging systemic problems while advocating for border security measures. She has secured endorsements from approximately a dozen Congressional members. A campaign controversy emerged when Wahab’s father posted on Facebook urging supporters to contact ICE regarding Hernandez, prompting the candidate’s campaign to issue a public apology.
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